Is it safe to visit Zimbabwe?

I am wondering how safe it is to visit Zimbabwe on vacation. I have heard from some people that the cholera, poverty and simmering political violence makes visiting Zim a big mistake, while others say it is still an amazing place to visit.

Is it safe to go to Zim?

On another note, how expensive is it, when compared to visiting south africa. Do they stil use the local currency are have they switched to US or South aFricabn currency. Once again I am getting mixed information in that regard. Thanks for any input!

Comments

In short yes it is safe to visit Zimbabwe. Hundreds of thousand of tourists visit annually and almost all have an absolutely fantastic time. But as with all African countries it depends on where you go and how you get there, and in some cases you need to be somewhat cautious. If you stay in the main tourist destinations like Victoria Falls you will hardly even notice that the country has problems.

On the whole it is slightly more expensive than South Africa and no they do not use the local Zimbabwe dollar any more and everything is priced in US$. You can find some more information on that here Zimbabwe Currency

Have a look at this web page it will give you all the current prices Zimbabwe Visa. Canadians are the most expensive at US$75 per single entry and US citizens are US$30 per single entry. UK nationals pay US$55 per single entry

There was unfortunately an unfavorable incident reported recently on the Beitbridge Road, where the occupants of a vehicle, that had stopped to change drivers, were beaten up badly and had their items stolen. This road is notorious for these kind of attacks and the advice is to not necessarily stop travelling on this road but just don't stop to do anything.

As for your route by train, I have heard of tourists doing this and having no problems at all. My son did the Byo to Vic Falls train route about a month ago and he said it was great.

I want to know all the dangerous places there are in zimbabwe and I would also like to know if im allowed to take pictures off the armed forces?? My aim is to take pictures off the forces and security!! It's a hobby of mine I loved Zimbabwe before it became corrupt. So yeh is it a bad idea to travel alone to take pictures???

In Zimbabwe the poverty rate is 80% and unemployment is the worlds largest at 95%.The Zimbabwean econmomy is shrinking and there is hyper-inflation. Water water shortages are common and power cuts are regular from 8 to 24 hours The Zimbawean dollar is worthless and foreign investment is nil.All of this informtion is on the internet.Ask yourself, with thousands of unemployed people in Zimbabwe and a worth less currency why would someone offer you a job?

The reality in Zim is a bit different to that reported. Sure there are massive issues, but to a large extent life continues as normal as is so often the case. The Zimbabwe dollar is hardly used - everything is priced in US Dollars or South African Rand. I know people with thriving businesses in Zimbabwe, who are employing skilled foreigners, but of course you need to check this out to make sure it's not a scam. There should be info on the company, check it out and contact them. Regarding safety, Zimbabwe is actually relatively safe, safer in fact than neighbouring South Africa, and now probably safer than Kenya with its recent terrorism issue. People go about their daily business in Harare as usual.

Mathieu I have at the present time two cases of clients in Zimbabwe and I cannot agree that life goes on as normal. People have no option to live as they do that is not normal. I have also lived and worked in Zimbabwe and I agree it is relatively safe, it is also a beautiful country. However a once impressive health and education system is in tatters, prosperous farming and food production has been destroyed. The bread basket of this land is brokenMany Zimbabweans are severely malnourished, and deaths from starvation occur even in the cities. The country has not yet suffered nationwide famine only because international donors have stepped in. Not even Chinese investors who are happily investing throughout Africa can be tempted to Zimbabwe.Your wealthy friends Mathieu with their foreign bank accounts prosper, making them complicit in the perpetuation of devastating economic policies.

Foreign investment is negligible because it's high risk, but by investing in the country, sometimes with the help of foreign development banks, entrepreneurs are employing thousands of locals, which in a country of high unemployment I'd suggest is a good thing. Its better than all the best people leaving, which they have in droves. The businesses I am thinking of are chicken and fish farms and they are taking on the big importers (at present most fish and chicken gets imported frozen from China and Brazil). How can that be a bad thing?

Anyway, this thread is meant to be about safety in Zimbabwe, and I think we agree on that.